4 cyl expedition builds?

Some really great info and builds in this thread. Definitely inspired to do more with and to my truck.

My wife and I recently took a 5k mile plus road trip over a two week period in the truck ('01 SR5 ExtraCab 4wd). We left from Jacksonville, FL and reached Boise, ID, hitting different places in between on the way there and on the way back. We had no real agenda besides having to be in Salt Lake & Boise by a specific date. Other than that, it was pretty much an open trip. After the trip, my wife and I realized that there was so much to see and so much to venture.

In all honesty, I was a little hesitant to take a 16 year old truck on a trip like that. Not that I don't trust my truck. I've had it its entire life, so I know it pretty well. However, we said screw it, and just hit the road. It did very well. Just one little issue (bad ignition coil). No big deal.

After seeing this thread, I will definitely be working on the truck. My wife and I cannot wait to hit the road again. But next time, hopefully we will be more capable of hitting places that we were not prepared for on the road trip.

 

98 regular cab. 33's with 4.88 gearing and lots of armor. Plenty of power. Top speed on highway isn't too great but I didn't build it for any land speed records lol. I recently added a trd supercharger. Makes it a lot more fun to drive!

I also have a 2002 with the 3.4. I'd pick the 4 banger, 5 speed over the auto 3.4.

 

Lots of great looking first gens in here!

 

I bet it will do 100.

 

Haha probably but motor will be screaming lol

 

Haha yea. I like to make my girl scream! Hehe Seriously though I don't think there is a day that I drive it that I don't go over 4k rpm. Altitude sucks. I think I hit 98 once at about 5000ft elevation though.

 

Nice build. Have you used your front locker much? I have an arb up front but I'm always scared to use it because the ifs is pretty weak...

 

How do you like the wilco hitchgate?

 

Im loving it so far! It was a pita to install/put together but other than that i have only good things to say about it

 

I have broken 1 manual hub axle so far while locked and 1 add when i was open. I switched back to ADD since i thought the manual axle broke too easily. Just understand what you are doing to your front and avoid binding things up if you can. No sharp turns. Id also learn how to swap an axle on the trail. You paid good money for that locker and to be afraid to use it seems silly. If you dont have a spare you can cut the boots and remove the center part of the cv and leave both stub ends in. If you do this you can then keep your front locked and still have power to the good axle. It's not as good as an open diff but its better than 2wd.

 

Here is my 2.7l 5spd

And my 2 cents! I can't speak for the automatic trucks but the 5spd with the 4:10 gears rocks. That being said I am running 285/70s and I am minorly under geared but I can load the truck up with tools during the week or gear for a trip and do 80mph on the freeway and then throw it in 4lo in the woods and crawl with the best of them. I have more plans for my truck and plan on regearing and possibly bigger tires but buying a house is at the top of my financial decisions list at the moment so the rest will have to wait!

 

The second gen ifs is a lot stronger than the first gen. But that being said just don't be silly with it. Don't bind it up, and try not to hop or have a loss of traction then suddenly get traction. I've used my front locker a bunch never had an issue

 

my 4 banger weekend expedition rig

 

I am headed the expedition route. Building another flatbed that will have a removable cage made of 1 inch square tubing that extends over the cab for storage with custom sewn canvas the can be buttoned to the side or rolled up. Second battery under bed, tjm dual battery controller, 40 watt quick detach solar panel, rear winch, ome dakars, 4.88 gears, and LCE header. Underbed drawers will be in front of tires. 2 gallon isolated air tank for the arb pump to fill up. Already got the locker and pump. It has a 10k winch up front.

 

Mine

 

What heck is she holding?

 

My 4 banger takes me evvvverywhere and it is cozy as hell.

Not an all-out build but you don't need to go crazy to have tons of fun just good tires to start and go from there based on need.

 

Bucket with blueberries and a blueberry picker.

 

Honestly I thought it was a poop bucket and some kind of pooper scooper.